According to the local residents, the accident took place on Zi Kondan creek under Rathidaung township, where 13 passengers survived. The ferry sank at 9.15 am when it was crossing the creek carrying 17 students.

“The  missing schoolgirls hail from Kyauk Zartin village under Rathidaung township. The tragedy took place while they were on way to attend classes  in Ran Aung Byint government high school,” said U Maung Kyan Wai, who witnessed the incident.

Among those missing schoolgirls, there were two sisters from Kyauk Byint Site village. The sibling was identified as Ma U Tin Yee {grade 9} and Ma Ni Ni Aye {grade 7}, both were daughters of U Sein Yin Maung. The other two schoolgirls were identified as Ma Khaing Pyo Wai {grade 5 and daughter of U Maung Than Tin} and Ma Tin May Oo { grade 5 and  daughter of U Aung Kyaw Moe}.

A similar kind of tragedy occurred on 1 June 2016 in Ponna Kyaunt township, when 7 students including 6  girls  died in a ferry boat capsize on Tawphyr Chaung river. The students were returning from the new season’s first day classes in Pho Yee Byint high school to their native Gan Gar village.